To be worried about friend driving in flip flops?

[MargotLovedTom1]

Just that. Friend kindly offered to take my DC out for the afternoon with her DC. I just noticed last minute that she's wearing beach flip flops to drive in. They've gone off and I was left thinking I should've said something, because as far as I'm concerned flip flops are dangerous for driving in and she's got my kid in the car. They're not just popping round the corner either. But wtf could I have said without sounding like a nob?!

Pretty sure in Spain you get fined for driving in them sure this was mentioned when we hired a car

dont give a stuff about her but it may not be a tree she hits . how hard is it to keep a pair of fit for purpose shoes in the car?

aussie road death rate over twice that of the uk, stupid footwear choice might be part of that.

I’m really fussy about driving shoes and have to drive in thin soled trainers. It is a bit of a faff changing but I’ve just never really liked driving in some of my other shoes and feel a lot less safe and secure

Clarebel22

Why didn't you put the car in neutral and break with your clutch foot?? That just popped into my head. I get it's scarier at the time but that I think would've been my gut reaction. And why were you pulling out so close to an oncoming vehicle?

Don’t tar me with your dangerous brush chickoletta I wear trainers to drive in, or proper sandals at least with an ankle strap. Driving in flip flops seems like a very bad idea to me, so I don’t do it.

As for being accused of wearing flip flops wrong

I never drive in flip flops or wellies. I never wear heels anyway. I'll change into trainers or ballet pumps for driving, I wouldn't feel safe otherwise.

Driving in flip flops or barefoot is not illegal in the U.K. - I'm not sure why people are saying that it is!

That being said I hate driving in thin soled shoes. I wear trainers if I'm driving, or sometimes ankle boots in winter but I couldn't drive in thin ballet shoes or anything, it just doesn't feel safe!

I've never tried driving barefoot.

What is the correct vs incorrect way to wear flip flops?

I agree Annie and Titsalina - I couldn't really say anything about what she chooses to wear on her feet, and would've looked utterly bizarre saying my DC couldn't go for some spurious reason I'd suddenly remembered out of the blue. I'm sure it'll be fine but I'll be happy when DC is back home.

"It is not actually illegal to drive in flip flops, or bare feet, but the RAC says studies have shown the sandals can increase braking time and make accidents more likely.

Motorists are technically allowed to get behind the wheel wearing flip flops - if they are able to safely operate the controls. But if the choice of footwear hinders the driver’s ability to control their vehicle - and puts them, their passengers or other motorists at risk - then it is illegal.

If a driver has an accident and is wearing flip flop sandals, or footwear like stiletto heels, the insurer could say the choice of footwear contributed to dangerous driving. In extreme cases, they could try and avoid paying out."

Source: www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/driving-flip-flops-law-insurance-13430077.amp

RAC says whilst it's not technically illegal to drive barefoot, people really shouldn't and footwear should be 'stable' (i.e. not able to come off easily).

Worthwhile noting that if you have an accident whilst driving in flipflops, most insurers would void your insurance for driving in unsuitable footwear.

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/driving-summer-illegal-rules-dvla-14552377

The stories on here of accidents and also insurance companies not paying out make sobering reading. I would certainly not drive on a motorway in flipflops, and I do reduce risk in other ways such as seat belts always on, DCs always in correct car seats, no mobile phone use, no driving after alcohol, good car maintenance, lights on and so on.

Hmmm. Food for thought. Thanks all.

My friends insurance company also wouldn't pay out due to "unsuitable footwear".

I would never wear them when driving. AS PP said, I've also never been in a situation where I've needed my seatbelt but I always put it on. Driving in flipflops is dangerous and people seem to be forgetting they're not the only ones on the road. Want to put yourself at risk - fine. But think twice when you have your kids in the car and think about everyone else on the road you endanger when you take such risks. Not a gamble I want to take personally. Of course there is risk everywhere but I don't think that excuses anyone from taking responsibility and being accountable for their own actions.

I wear flip flops all summer and drive in them everyday - never had a problem

I would never drive in flip flops, birkenstocks or wellies.
I do sometimes drive barefoot as I know it's not illegal.

When I first learned to drive, flip-flops were what most of us wore in summer. I felt really uneasy driving with them, without being able to visualise exactly what might go wrong. I made the conscious decision that I would always drive barefoot instead. I tend to wear sandals rather than flip-flops in the UK, but on the rare occasion I'm wearing flip-flops when I drive, I take them off for driving.

I don't see a problem with driving barefoot. It's not as comfortable as wearing say sandals, but there's not any lack of control. I'm bemused by people saying you can't exert enough force with your bare foot, my pedals don't require any huge amount of force.

Shocked at this thread. I can't believe there are so many people so fucking stupid and ignorant as to drive in what are clearly deeply unsuitable footwear.

Me to Tringley
Buy hey, it's OK because they've "never had a problem"

Flip flops kill my feet, so I never wear them.

I drive in Birkenstocks all the time though, and if I am just popping to the station, it's usually my husband's.

Would never drive in flip flops after having one come partially off whilst driving so it's was basically vertical to the pedal and pedal as getting wedged. Horrid.

Please don't drive in shoes that can slide off.

Please don't drive in shoes that can slide off

Yeah, I'm wondering why people think Birkenstocks are fine. It's any shoe with no back/ankle strap that shouldn't be worn, not just flip flops/thongs. That means mules, Adilettes, Crocs and those dreadful slipper/slider things.

I think a lot of people just don’t know how to wear them properly?

Yes, you’re right. We are all to thick to work out how to wear a flip flop correctly. They’re SO complicated.

I'm bemused by the number of posters saying that they've driven in flip-flops and never had a problem. As if them being lucky enough to never experience getting stuck between the pedals means that it's generally safe.

I live near the area where there was an awful car crash in 2016. The driver was wearing flip flops. One got wedged in such a way that it depressed the accelerator and he was unable to free it. The car smashed into a wall. One daughter was killed and his other daughter was seriously injured. The little girl who died was only 9.

I love my flip flops. I virtually live in them between May-September. But they are not suitable footwear for driving in.

Kind of shocked by this thread aswell . I'm definetley not one of those people who panic over the slightest risks but I honestly don't think I'm
Being over dramatic in saying it is Massivley dangerous to drive in flip flops !! They really could get wedged very very easily and make it impossible to break/ push down the accelerator

Just because you've "always been fine " doesn't mean it's fine . You could say that about many things I bet you wouldn't actually do !!!

I thought it was illegal and driving barefoot too. I have to drive in flat shoes as flip flops scare me and my heel once got wedged under the clutch.